Sports game

ABSTRACT

A method of playing a sports game with the use of a ring as a game element comprises a competition between two teams on playing ground divided by a net. Players of teams disposed on opposite sides of the net pass the ring over the net until it touches the other team&#39;s base ground within the borders of the area or beyond it. The ring can be received and passed by hands, feet, head or body without fixing it in an non-rotary state. Players may pass the ring to teammates a predetermined number of times before propelling the ring over the net. The playing ground may be fenced over its perimeter by an elastic barrier such that rebounds of the ring off of the barrier are in play. The ring may be made of a elastic material in the shape of a polygon, particularly equilateral polygon, in longitudinal section. A ring with luminescent coating or internal sources of light may be used.

[0001] This application is a divisional of copending application: U.S.application Ser. No. 09/868,433, which is a national stage applicationof PCT Application No. PCT/RU99/00419, filed Oct. 28, 1999.

FIELD OF TECHNIQUE

[0002] The invention belongs to sports game in which a ring is used as agame element. It can be used both by amateurs of outdoor games and byprofessionals. The game is named by the inventor “BELRING”.

PREVIOUS LEVEL OF TECHNIQUE

[0003] The interest in non-traditional sports games grows over recentyears while the interest in classic sports and games is preserved. Dueto mobility and spectacular character of sports games with the use of aring have become popular lately.

[0004] The known sports game is “ringo” intended for sports andsanitation purposes (RU,C1,2033829) In the process of this game playerscast and catch a rubber ring.

[0005] The disadvantage of this game is its static character, low loadsand hence —low training effect. The game is intended mostly for youngerchildren and elders.

[0006] Another known sports game is a competition of two teams ofplayers with the use of an inflated game element in the shape of a ring(RU,C1,2014860). Two teams composed of several players take part in thisgame. The players pass the game element on the playing ground amongmembers of their team and throw it trying to hit the target—a pin onwhich the ring shall be thrown. The player who got the ring in motion oron completion of moving the ring uses the three-pace rhythm to stop orto throw the ring.

[0007] The disadvantage of this game is its low dynamics, lowspectacularity. According to the description the game is intended forprimary schoolchildren and chairbound persons.

[0008] There is another sports game with the use of a ring as a gameelement—a competition of two teams on the playing ground marked off onthe base and divided by a net into two equal parts, players of teams arelocated at both sides from the net and they pass and meet the ring untilit touches the base within the borders of the area or beyond it. (L. E.Argun, R. Kh. Khanoverov, Ringo is your health!, Lubertsy, 1992). In theprocess of the game the ring may be intercepted, fixed (caught) only byhand; players may not rebound the ring or to meet it with their forearmsor other parts (the leg, the neck, the body); the ring may be kept by aplayer without any limitations or during 5 sec. The ring may not bepassed to the player of the same team, a player of this team may catchthe ring that another player failed to catch properly. The ring may nottouch anything located within or beyond the borders of the playingground, parts of the body except hands and “the glass wall space”.

[0009] However the game is not sufficiently dynamic due to keeping thecaught ring by players without any limitation of time. The techniqueused in the game is rather monotonous that is the ring is caught by handand thrown on the rivals' area which make the game not sufficientlyspectacular. Combinations possibilities are practically absent as aplayer may not pass the ring to his partners. Besides it shall be notedthat physical loads on players are not high as only quite restrictedpart of muscles is subjected to loading. Hence the game has aninsignificant training effect and can be of interest mostly formiddle-aged and elder persons.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The purpose of the invention is to elaborate a dynamical,spectacular, entertaining sports game accessible for people of differentage and making it possible to vary physical loads from low to intensive.

[0011] According to the invention this problem is solved by using a ringas the game element in a sports game which is a competition of two teamson a playing ground marked off on the base and divided by a net into twoequal parts; the players pass the ring and meet it until the ringtouches the base within the zone of the playing ground or beyond it. Thering may be met and passed by hands, feet, head, body. The contact ofthe player with the ring is effected as a shot, throw or rotation of thering by any part of the body without fixing it in immobile state; theplayers serving the ring make one or several passes to their partners;the playing ground can be fenced over its perimeter with a elasticbarrier, the game element may also be caught and passed if it reboundedfrom the elastic barrier; the ring may be made of an elastic materialits longitudinal section being in the shape of a polygon, particularlyequilateral polygon; a luminescent coating may be applied on the surfaceor the ring may be fabricated from a material containing phosphor; thering may be hollow, made of a transparent material with sources of lightand power supply cells inserted into the ring; the ring of a hula hooptype may be used as well,

[0012] The applicant did not find any sources of information thatcontain data on technical solutions identical to the claimed one whichin the opinion of the applicant enables to make a conclusion that theinvention conforms to the “Novelty” (N) criterion.

[0013] Due to realization of the invention claims new importantproperties of the subject are reached:

[0014] continuity of the game process (no pauses when the ring is met byplayers);

[0015] continuous motion of the ring (rotation or flight);

[0016] enlargement of forms of contact of the player with the gameelement (participation of hands, feet, head, body in the contacts withthe ring, interaction by a shot, throw or rotation of the ring with apart of the body);

[0017] increased combination possibilities in the process of the game(due to passes of the ring among the partners and use of the elasticbarrier for parrying the ring);

[0018] increased accuracy of passes and accuracy of throwing the ring inthe definite place of the playing ground because when striking therectilinear side of the ring not point by linear contact occurs whichmakes the trajectory of the flight of the ring more definite after thestroke.

[0019] New properties of the claimed invention make the game dynamical,entertaining, spectacular, increase its training effect both on variousgroups of muscles and on the organism of players as a whole.

[0020] The applicant did not find any information on the influence ofthe distinctive features of the invention on the final technical result.Hence the conclusion can be made that the invention conforms to the“Inventive step” (IS) criterion,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Subsequently, the invention is explained by detailed descriptionof the example with reference to the attached drawings in which thefollowing items are presented:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the playing ground, the net,and elastic barriers intended for realization of the claimed game;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a perspective view in axonometric projection of theplaying ground, the net, and elastic barriers intended for realizationof the claimed game;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a ring for the sports game, in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a cross section of a ring along lines I-I in FIG. 3;

[0026]FIG. 5 is a fragment of a longitudinal section of a ring for thesports game, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

BEST VARIANT OF REALIZATION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The sports game named “BELRING” shall be realized in thefollowing way.

[0028] Playing ground 2 (here 16×8 m²) is marked off on horizontal base1 (FIG. 1 —shown with dotted lines), in this example—covered with woodenpavement. Playing ground 2 is divided into two equal areas by verticalnet 3 formed by elastic members 4 tightened in vertical direction andfitted with protective coatings 5 and horizontal ropes 6. The distancebetween vertical elastic members is chosen so as to prevent passing thering through the net. Upper and lower ropes 6 are bearing and elasticmembers 4 are fastened to them. Intermediate ropes 6 are also providedwith protective coatings 7. Ropes 6 are secured to poles 8 installed onboth the sides of playing ground 2. Poles 8 are fitted with braces 9.Elastic barrier 10 is installed over the perimeter of playing ground 2.Barrier 10 consists of vertical elastic members 11 similar to members 4of net 3 and fitted with protective coatings 12. Elastic members 11 arefastened to ropes 13 stretched between vertical poles 14 with braces 15.Elastic members 11 are spaced so as to make it possible for players topass between them to the area beyond playing ground 2. A ring,particularly a ring of the “hula hoop” type (not shown) may be used as agame element. To increase dynamics and to make the game more spectaculartwo rings of different colours may be used. In the specific example ring16 is made of elastic material, particularly of PVC. Cavity 18 isprovided inside body 17 of ring 16 over the whole perimeter. Thelongitudinal section of ring 16 is made in the shape of a polygon,particularly equilateral polygon, with 12 sides each being 30 cm long.To make the game more spectacular and to increase its psychologicalinfluence on players and spectators the game may be organized in alow-illuminated premise. In this case a ring shall be used withluminescent (particularly crystal phosphorus) coating. The whole ringmay be made of a material containing phosphorus. Besides sources oflight 19 can be inserted into cavity 18 of the ring, particularly lightemission diodes connected in series and fitted with power supply cells.The referee sits on referee's tower 20. In the event that two rings areused in the game two additional referees on towers 21 and 22 may beinvolved.

[0029] Before the commencement of the game players of the teams (in thisexample four persons in each team) take their places on the playingground at either side from net 3. When the bell rings one of the playersserves ring 16 by throwing it from the rear line of playing ground 2.This service is made arbitrarily: by throwing the ring, kicking it byhand or foot. The service is deemed to be made correctly if the ringreached the rival's side of playing ground 2 without touching net 3 orbarrier 10 on the side of the team that performs the service. In theevent that the ring touched barrier 10 on the rival's side the serviceis deemed to be made correctly. If the service was made not correctly itwill be made by the rival a point being reckoned in his favour. In theevent that service was made correctly the ring is met by the players ofthe rival team. The ring may be met by hands, feet, head or body.Forearms and elbows as well as shanks and knees of players are protectedwith shields, the head is protected with a helmet. When meeting the ringit may be parried or rotated by a part of the body with a subsequentpass or a shot to the rival's side, but players may not fix the ring inimmobile (not rotary) condition. When the ring is kicked its trajectoryis rather determined which is essential when making a pass or throwingthe ring in the desired place on the playing ground. The ring met may beimmediately thrown over net 3 to the rivals' area directly or reboundedfrom elastic barrier 10 over the perimeter of playing ground 2 or it maybe passed by the player to any partner of his team. The number of passesis restricted, in this example it is four which corresponds to thenumber of players.

[0030] The ring is passed from one player to another until it touchesbase 1 in the zone of marked off playing ground 2 or beyond it. Thepoint, which is proposed to be called a “BEL” is deemed to be won if thering touched the rival's area of playing ground 2 or lost if it fellbeyond the rival's area. When playing with two rings they are served byplayers of the same team simultaneously. The game is played until 3 setsare won and in each set the game is continued until 27 points arescored. If the score is twenty six twenty six the set is continued untilthe difference in the score is two points.

[0031] Male, female and mixed teams may participate in the proposedgame.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0032] To realize the game usual materials and equipment are used. Thegame can be played both on specially equipped playing ground and on aground on which other sports game are played: basketball, volleyballafter installation of the net and the barriers. Hence the conclusion canbe made that the invention conforms to the “industrial applicability”(IA) criterion.

1. A method of playing a sports game, the sports game having at leastone ring as a game element, wherein said sports game is a competitionbetween a first team and a second team on a playing ground having aperimeter and divided by a net into two equal parts, and wherein membersof the teams are located on opposite sides of the net, the methodcomprising: propelling the at least one ring over the net by the firstteam, wherein the second team attempts to prevent the ring from touchingthe playing ground; and, if the second team prevents the ring fromtouching the playing ground, propelling the ring over the net by thesecond team, wherein the first team attempts to prevent the ring fromtouching the playing ground; wherein the members propel and receive thering until it touches the playing ground or other ground beyond theperimeter, and wherein said sports game involves receiving andpropelling the ring by hands, feet, head or body, and wherein contact ofthe member with the ring is as a shot or throw of the ring, or rotationof the ring with a part of the member's body without fixing it innon-rotary state.
 2. The method of playing a sports game according toclaim 1, wherein a team can make one or several passes of the ring amongteam members before propelling the ring over the net.
 3. The method ofplaying a sports game according to claim 1, further comprising:providing an elastic barrier over the perimeter of the playing ground,wherein the game element in the shape of a ring is allowed to bereceived and propelled if it is rebounded from the elastic barrier. 4.The method of playing a sports game according to claim 1, wherein the atleast one ring is made of an elastic material and is in the shape of apolygon in longitudinal section.
 5. The method of playing a sports gameaccording to claim 4, wherein the at least one ring is in the shape ofan equilateral polygon in longitudinal section.
 6. The method of playinga sports game according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ringcomprises a luminescent coating on its surface.
 7. The method of playinga sports game according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ring ismade of a material containing phosphorus.
 8. The method of playing asports game according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ring ishollow and made of a transparent material with a source of light and asource of power supply inside it.
 9. The method of playing a sports gameaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one ring is a “hula hoop”.10. The method of playing a sports game according to claim 2, furthercomprising: providing an elastic barrier over the perimeter of theplaying ground, wherein the game element in the shape of a ring isallowed to be received and passed or propelled if it is rebounded fromthe elastic barrier.
 11. A method of playing a sports game, comprising:providing a playing ground having a perimeter with a net dividing theplaying ground into two equal areas; providing a first team and a secondteam disposed on opposite sides of the net, the teams each comprised ofat least one member; and providing at least one resilient ring adaptedto be propelled over the net by a member of a team, wherein one teamscores a predetermined number of points when a member of the teampropels the ring over the net and the ring touches the playing ground onthe opposite side of the net, and wherein no points are scored if thering is received by the other team before the ring touches the playingground, and wherein when a member receives the at least one ringelement, the member may either propel the at least one ring element backover the net, or rotate the at least one ring element about a body partbefore propelling the at least one ring element, but the player may notcatch and fix the at least one ring element in a non-rotary state. 12.The method of playing a sports game as recited in claim 11, furthercomprising: providing a vertically oriented elastic barrier around theperimeter of the playing ground.
 13. The method of playing a sports gameas recited in claim 12, wherein one team scores a predetermined numberof points when a member of that team propels the at least one ring offof a portion of the elastic barrier and onto the playing ground on theopposite side of the net.
 14. The method of playing a sports game asrecited in claim 11, wherein the team members are permitted to pass theat least one ring to other team members up to a predetermined limitednumber of times before a team member must propel the ring over the net.15. The method of playing a sports game as recited in claim 11 whereinthe at least one ring made of an elastic material.
 16. The method ofplaying a sports game as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least onering is in the shape of a polygon.
 17. The method of playing a sportsgame as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one ring is in theshape of an equilateral polygon.
 18. The method of playing a sports gameas recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one ring is made of amaterial containing phosphorus.
 19. The method of playing a sports gameas recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one ring is hollow andtransparent, the ring being adapted to contain a light source.
 20. Themethod of playing a sports game as recited in claim 11, wherein a teamscores a predetermined number of points when an opposing team propels aring element over the net and the ring element touches ground outside ofthe playing ground perimeter.